How a Natural Mattress Can Improve Your Sleep
Whether it's wooden furniture or granite countertops, natural materials are at most homes' core. Some of us even commit to buying organic clothing and food, but have you ever considered a natural mattress?
Natural mattresses have natural fillings and a natural or hybrid outer cover, significantly reducing the quantity and intensity of chemicals in manufacturing. The higher density of the fillers also gives them a unique, padded feel.
If you struggle to get comfortable on a memory foam or standard sprung mattress, a natural mattress could be just what you need.
Here's how a natural mattress can improve your sleep:
Banish chemical smells for good
A mattress made from synthetic fibres and foams can interrupt your sleep when highly sensitive to certain synthetic materials.
The problem with synthetic mattresses is that some are manufactured with odorous chemicals and get wrapped and packaged before they dissipate. This is why most new mattresses have a chemical smell.
Over time, this smell dissipates, but it never goes away completely, and every time you get into bed, a cloud of chemical smells gets released.
Natural mattresses are made from at least 90% natural materials, shunning synthetic fibres and foams for materials found in nature. These materials are not laced with chemicals, so the mattress doesn't smell anywhere near as much.
Increased comfort with natural softness
If you don't sleep well on a regular mattress, it could be because your body doesn't agree with the mattress's composition.
Natural mattresses have natural materials combined to provide comfort for all sleepers. Here's a rundown of those materials:
- Bamboo: The most eco-friendly material, bamboo is hypoallergenic, durable and requires no chemicals during manufacturing.
- Organic cotton: Free from pesticides and naturally replenishable, cotton doesn't require chemicals during manufacturing.
- Wool: Sheep's wool is the most common natural material to create a padding layer -it's also great for regulating temperature.
- Mohair: A luxury wool from the Angora goat, mohair is hypoallergenic even for sheep's wool allergies.
- Latex: Latex is derived from the rubber tree and makes natural foam. It's an allergen, but not when covered up.
Natural mattresses feel denser than synthetic mattresses, with a damped, cushioned feel. You might prefer this to the squishiness of a synthetic mattress.
Peace of mind over eco-friendliness
With the world facing climate change, we're all trying to do our bit to reduce our impact on the planet. Switching to a natural mattress is a great way to play a part because they have a lower carbon footprint than regular mattresses.
While no mattress is perfect for eco-friendliness, natural mattresses consume less carbon during manufacturing.
Natural mattresses are better for the environment, from the raw materials to the intensity of the processes required for manufacturing.
Natural mattresses have more natural carbon emissions, which are lower than regular mattresses.
Additionally, the natural materials in mattresses are not only 100% recyclable but also readily recyclable at standard recycling facilities. The same cannot be said for all the materials in synthetic mattresses.
Top tip – another way to reduce the emissions of your mattress is to choose British-made, so the mattress hasn't been flown and shipped around the world.
Natural mattress recommendations
Shire Beds Eco Deep (medium)
Price: £499 (king)
The Shire Beds Eco Deep is filled with wool, mohair, silk, and cashmere, delivering a padded feel. It has 1,000 pocket springs for support.
Sleepeezee Wool Supreme (medium-firm)
Price: £649 (king)
The Sleepeezee Wool Supreme is filled with 100% British wool and is made in the UK. It has a chemical-free damask cover filled with cotton and wool and 2,400 pocket springs.
Giltedge Beds Royal 3000
Price: £899 (king)
The Giltedge Beds Royal 3000 is filled with lambswool, cashmere, silk, and cotton, with a plush pillowtop and 3,000 pocket springs.
You can browse more mattresses with natural fillings.